Draft rigging



March 31. 1925.

Q .mk w Q A n Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY R. DBENNING, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, T0 THE SYHINGLION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

DRAFT RIGGING.

Application med Api-n 15, 1922.. sei-m1 1ro. ssasso.

To all whom t may comem:

Be it known that I, PERor R. DRENNING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have 5 invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Draft Rigging; land I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to draft rigging for railway cars.

The principal object of my invention is to provide means for preventingthe splitting 16 of the yoke head, said means extending inwardly of thecenter sills and contacting said yoke upon angular movement thereofbeyond predetermined positions.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 20 vide guide meanscontacting each end portion yof a vertical yoke, said guide meansincluding front stop members .provided with oppositely arranged inclinedbearing surfaces cooperatively associated with the side 35 walls of theyoke head, and a combined backstop and center sill tie casting havinginclined bearing surfaces oppositely arranged for engagement withcooperating bearing surfaces provided" on the rear end of said yoke. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination, meansfor guiding and contacting the yoke head when moved beyond normalangular positions, and means including a front stop member overlappingthe center sills and forming, together with the cheek plates and saidsills, a supplemental stop member adapted to be engaged by the forwarded e of the coupler key upon movement of t e yoke beyond a predeterminedforwardA position and when the cushioning mechanism becomes solid.

With these and other objects in view, the invention further consists inthe construction and arrangement of the several parts hereinafterdescribed and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated anjembodiment of my inventionand in which corresponding reference characters designate similar partsin the several views: Figure l is a view half in plan and half inhorizontal section of the center or draft the line [1 -a of Figure 2 andthe other half y of said view being taken 011 the line b-b of Figure 2,the yoke being shown in assembled position.

' Figure 4 is a detail view in side elevation lof a vertical yokeembodying certain feal tures of\ my invention.

The channel center or draft sills of the car underframe are designated-by the numeral 1, said sills being spaced apart, as shown, and tiedtogether by means of the backstop member or casting 2. The stop casting2 is formed with stop lugs or portions 3'adapted to be engaged by therear follower 4 of the cushioning mechanism, which latter isdiagrammatically indicated by the dot and dash lines in Figurev 1.

Adjacent the stop lugs 3 and extending rearwardly therefrom, are theoppositely disposed inclined walls and bearing faces 5, said facesterminating in a cross connectingv web 6, which latter constitutes abufng face for preventing rearward movement of the yoke. Each bearingface 5 is perforated, as at 7, said perforations being of a sizesuflicient to permit the insertion of the' rivets and tool for holdingthe same while being upset, and also serving to eect convenient coringin the manufacture of the easing. The bearing faces on the rear of theyoke which eo-act with the inclined bearing faces of the stopcasting 2are each provided with openings of relatively small size, said openingsbeing located so as-to brin maximum bearing surfaces adjacent thebearing faces of the stop casting and particularly in transverse ainement with the intermediate horizontally disposed stiffening websconnecting the inclined walls and side walls of the casting to behereinafter referred to.

The cross connecting web 6 of the backstop is braced by thelongitudinally disposed web 9 and the side Walls of the backstop castingare connected and braced byv transverse diagonally disposed webs,v as

shown. Horizontally arranged intermediate flangs or webs 12' unite theside walls with the aring walls and serve to reinforce the stop lugs ofthe casting. Transversely arranged diagonal braces 13 connect the webs 6with vthe side walls, and said walls join said web at its juncture withthe inclined bearing walls, as shown in Figure'l. ,A vertical yoke 14 isprovided atits rear end with inwardly rearwardly inclined wall portions15, the bearing faces thereon cooperating with the inclined bearingfaces formed on the backstop. The rear end of the yoke is of hollow webconstruction, each bearing face having openings, as indicated at 16.These openings are relatively slnall and are arranged upon therespective opposite side walls of the yoke so as to provide relativelylarge bearing faces at points corresponding to the beating surfacesformed between the perforations 7 in the inclined bearing' walls of thebackstop. The cooperating bearing faces are normally slightly spaced, asshown,

and have been designed to provide ample wearing surfaces formed ofstrong but comparatively light weight material.

I The end of the yoke is adapted to be normally guided and retainedWithin the bearing ocket or recess, and is capable of both longitudinaland lateral movement under draft. When angling on curves the respectivebearing faces of the yoke and backstop are operatively contacted andlateral or angular movement of said yoke is restrained beyond the usualpredetermined distance, thereby materially reducing the strains whichwould ordinarily be transmitted to the forward orhooded head of the yokecausing it to spread and split.

The forward end of the yoke is provided with a hooded head portion 17havinr side walls 18 each of which is flared and slotted for thereception of the coupler key 19. The forward ends ofthe slots 20 in saidhead terminate in relatively thickened portions forming the side walls,thereby increasing the bearing surfaces for the key at these oints.Formed in the forward end of eac center sill is a relatively long slot21. To the inner face of each sill is connected a cheek plate or frontstop member 22, each of which is provided with a slot 23 adapted whenthe cheek plates are in position to register with said slots 21 in thesills.

The inner edges of the cheek plates are formed with bearing faces 24,portions of said faces being arranged above and below the slots 23 atadjacent sides thereof, vand othervportions of said bearing facesextending vertically and terminating in the top and bottom flanges 25and 26, respectively, of the ,cheek plates. The bearing faces arerelatively wide, as shown, and are forwardly and outwardly inclined forcooperation with the similarly inclined side walls 18 of the hooded yokehead, said'bearing faces being arranged in normally spaced butrelatively close position to the yoke head, as shown.

Intermediate webs or flanges 27 unite the side walls of the cheek platewith the bearing portions, said flanges acting to 4brace the stopportion or lug 28 of each cheek plate, andto also form a surroundingboss for the forwardly extending side portion'of the slot 23.' Rivets 29are arranged between the respective flanges of the cheek plate, saidrivets firmly connecting said plate to the center sill. The forward endof each cheek plate is reduced, as shown, to extend between portions ofthe striking casting and carry iron, said cheek plate terminating at theforward end of the center sill, and immediately in the rear ofan`inwardly extending flange 30.

A coupler`31 extends into the open end of the draft rigging recess orpocket and is connected to the yoke by means of the coupler keyhereinbefore referred to. The forward follower of the cushioningmechanism is indicated by the numeral 32.v

Connected to and bridging the forward ends of the draft sills is acombined member for forming the striking casting 33 and the carry ironsupport 34, said member being provided, with rearwardly extendingflanges 35 overlapping and connected to the draft sills by certain ofthe rivets 29 herein before mentioned. The inner intermediate edges ofthe flanges 35 terminate in a curved stop portion 36 arranged inalinement with the forward stop portions of the slots 21 in the centersills and slots 23 in the cheek plates. A curved substantiallysemi-circular boss surrounds the stop portion 36 of each flange, saidboss projecting outwardly to form a* relatively wide stop portion forthe forward edge of the coupler key, and being also reinforced or bracedby the ribs or flanges 37 uniting the sides of the flanges and saidboss. The flanges 35 extend rearwardly beyond the-curved stop portionsand .are adapted to receive certain of the rivets 29 which firmlyconnect the sills, cheek plates and said flanges together.

The foregoing construction provides a supplemental stop for the forwardedge of the coupler key when the cushioning mechanism becomes solid,thereby transmitting and .distributing excessive loads to the sills andcar underframe. The combined strik'- ing casting and carry iron supportis formed with a top portion which projects rearwardly over the topflanges of the center sills, and the end sill 38 is arranged between andconnected by rivets to said top portion and said center sill flanges.Vertical ribs 39 and horizontally and laterally extending ribs 40project from the top portion and serve as braces or reinforcing members..An

loo

angle brace 41 is provided for the. end sill,

rivets passing therethrough and the vertical Splitting or distorting ofthe yyoke head, the

cooperating bearing faces at both the rear and front ends of the yokeserving to limit -lateral movement thereof beyond predeterminedpositions..

The supplemental front stop members for" the coupler key are arranged tobridge and overlap the center sills and are connected to the cheekplates for firmly uniting the several parts, thereby effectivelyresisting the strains imparted through the bearing surfaces upon anglingof the yoke.

Having thus described my invention, although it is to be understood thatthe words used are to be taken in their descriptive and not in theirlimited sense, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters- Patent, is

1. Ina draft rigging, the combination with draft sills, of cushioningmechanism, a coupler, a vertical yoke, means including a key connectingsaid coupler and yoke, a stop member with which front edge of said keyengages when the cushioning mechanism becomes solid, said stop memberbridging and overlapping said draft sills, and stop members with whichthe rear edge of said key engages, said last named stop members beingconnected to the draft sills and reach having vertically andhorizontally eXtend-.

ing bearing surfaces arranged to lguide and contact the forward end ofthe yoke above and below the key for transmitting the loads through theyoke head to the draft sills.

2. In a .draft rigging, the combination with draft sills, of cushioningmechanism, a

. coupler, a vertlcal yoke, means including a key connecting saidcoupler. and yoke, a front stop member adapted to be engaged by thefront edge of said key, said stop member being arranged to close theforward end of the draft rigging recess and provided with rearwardlyextending flanges, cheek plates provided with stop portions adapted tobe engaged by the rear edge of said key, said cheek platesprojecting'laterally of the draft rig ing recess in normally lcloselyspaced re ation from, the yoke, and rivet means (passing through' vtheforward portions of sai cheek plates andsaid rearwardly extendingflanges for connecting said parts to the draft sills.

3. In-a draft rigging, the combination v with spaced center sills, ofcushioning mechanlsm, a coupler, a yoke, means including a keyconnecting said'coupler and yoke, a combined striking castmg and carrylron support having portions adapted to form a forward stop for said keywhen 'the cushioning mechamsm becomes solid, cheek plates connected tosaid center sills and arranged to form a rear stop member for said keywhen the cushioning mechanism becomes solid, bearing faces provided onsaid cheek plates with which the sides of the yoke are adapted to engageabove and below said key, and means connecting said cheek plates to thecenter sills and to portions of said combined striking casting and.carry iron support.

4. In a draft rigging, the combination with spaced center sills, ofa'cushioning mechanism, a coupler, a yokel, means connecting saidcoupler ,and yoke, a back' stop member having bear-ing faces adapted tocontact the rear of said yoke upon angular movement thereof beyond apredetermined position, and front stop members, said front stop membersbeing provided with bearing faces arranged to contact the forward end ofthe yoke both horizontally and vertically at points above and below themeans connecting the coupler and yoke upon angular movement aforesaid.

5. In a draft rigging, the combination with spaced center sills, of acushioning mechanism, a coupler, a vertical yoke, means connecting saidcoupler and yoke, a backstop member having stop p'ortions andintermediate inclined bearing faces arranged to 4guide and contact theopposite side faces of the rear of the yoke, and frontstop membershaving adjacent inclined bearing faces located above and below the moansconnecting the coupler and yoke for guiding and contacting opposite sidewallsv ofsaid yoke at the front end thereof. V

6. In a draft rigging,-thc combination with spaced center sills` of 'acushioning mechanism` a coupler` a. yoke. means connecting said couplerand yoke. and means for guiding and contacting said yoke upon angularmovement thereof beyond predetermined posit-ions, said means comprisingrelatively large vertical and longitudinally arran ed bearing surfacesdisposed upon opposlte sides of the means connectin the coupler andyoke, said bearing faces eing 'shaped to conform to the adjacentportions' of said yoke.

7. In a draft rigging, the combination with spaced center sills, of acushioning mechanism, a coupler', a vertical yoke, means connecting saidcoupler and yoke, and

ymeans guiding and contacting the yoke upon angular and lateralmovements thereof beyond predetermined positions, said means comprisingcooperating similarly inclined bearing surfaces arranged upon oppositesides of said yoke at each end thereof.

8. In la draft rigging, the combination with spaced center silla, of acushioning Sill mechanism, a coupler, a vertical yoke, means connectingsaid coupler and yoke, and means for guiding and contacting the yokeupon angular movements thereof beyond predetermined positions. saidmeans including a plurality of bearing surfaces fixed with relation tothe center sills and located at the front and rear of the yoke, and aplurality of cooperating.;y bearing surfaces provided on the respectiveends of said yoke for contacting said fixed bearing surfaces uponangular movements aforesaid.

9. In a draft rigging, the combination with spacedcenter sills, of acushioning mechanism, a coupler, a vertical yoke, means connecting said'coupler and yoke, and means for guiding and contacting said yoke uponangular movements thereof bcyond predetermined positions, said meansincluding grelatively large fixed bearing surfaces arranged at each endof the yoke, and cooperating bearing surfaces of correspondingly largesize provided on the side walls of said yoke and arranged to Contact thesaid fixed bearing surfaces upon angular movements aforesaid.

10. In a draft rigging, the combination with spaced draft sills, of acoupler, a vertical yoke having its rear side walls formed withrelatively large bearing faces, and a backstop member provided withcooperating correspondingly large bearing faces, said cooperatingbearing faces acting to guide said yoke and being designed to contactand provide relatively large resisting areas for limiting the angularmovement of said yoke beyond a predeterminedposition.

11. In a draft rigging, the combination with spaced center sills, of acoupler, a vertical yoke provided with spaced vertically disposedbearing faces upon each side wall at the rear of the yoke, and abackstop member formed with cooperating spaced bearing faces' verticallyarranged at points corresponding to said bearing faces upon the yoke,both of said spaced bearing faces coacting to limit the movement of therear end `of said yoke beyond predetermined positions.

12. In a draft rigging, the combination with spaced centen sills, of acoupler, a vertical yoke having a hollow webbed rear end provided withspaced bearing faces, said bearing faces having relatively smallopenings therein, and a backstop member formed of reinforced websections including spaced bearing walls, said bearing walls being formedwith bearing faces having openings arranged in transverse alinement withthe aforesaid openings whereby said bearing surfaces are brought intomaximum contact upon movement of the yoke beyond a predeterminedposition. p Y

13. In a draft rigging, the combination with spaced center sills, of acoupler, a vertical yoke having a hooded head provided with oppositelydisposed bearing faces and front stop members each having a plurality ofprojecting ribs furnished with anges, said ribs and ianges formingcooperating bearing faces arranged to contact an adjacent bearing faceof said hooded head for preventing angular movement of theyoke headbeyond a predetermined' position.

14. In a draft rigging, the combination with spacedcenter sills, of acoupler, a yoke having a hooded head formed with oppositely disposedbearing faces, means including a coupler key connecting said yoke andcoupler, and front stop members each having a plurality of projectingribs furnished with flanges, said fianges forming bearing facescooperatively associated with said hooded head bearing faces, said lastnamed bearing faces being arranged above and below said coupler key andextending to the top and bottom respectively of said front stop members.p In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

PERCY R. DRENNING.

